Peer Reviewed Patient Education

Why does my knee hurt when I exercise?

A knee with patellofemoral pain syndrome hurts during exercise because of the increased fluid in the joint or swelling in the tissues. This interferes with the motion of the knee and can cause increased friction in the joint as the knee moves.

How long will it take for my knee to heal?

A typical non-operative program can take six weeks or more. It is a good idea to give the knee at least as much time for the symptoms to begin to improve as it has experienced discomfort.

What are my chances of avoiding surgery?

A very high percentage (about 95%) of patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome will respond successfully to a conservative, non-operative treatment program such as the one outlined here.

References

At Seaport we believe in meeting patients' individual needs through comprehensive evaluation and treatment, designed to help achieve an active, pain-free lifestyle. Seaport physicians take the time to know you and work with you from your initial symptoms or injury, through every aspect of your recovery. Our goal at Seaport is to enable our patients to get back to a full active lifestyle as quickly and safely possible.

Our group is comprised of various physicians whose specialties include orthopaedic surgery, treatment of the hand, knee, spine, hip, foot and ankle, physical medicine and rehabilitation and pain management.